Abstract
Physical activity, specifically exercising, has been suggested to improve body image, mental health, and well-being. With respect to body image, previous findings highlight a general benefit of exercise. This study investigates whether the relationship between exercising and body image varies with the type of exercise that individuals preferentially and regularly engage in. In addition, physical efficacy was explored as a potential psychological mediator between type of exercise and body image. Using a cross-sectional design, healthy regular exercise practitioners of yoga, ballroom dance, team sports, or individual sports as well as healthy adults reporting no regular exercising were surveyed. Body image and its different facets were assessed by a set of standardized self-report questionnaires, covering perceptual, cognitive, and affective body image dimensions particularly related to negative body image. In addition, participants were questioned with regard to mental health. Participants were 270 healthy adults. Descriptive statistics, measures of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression analysis with orthogonal contrasts were performed to investigate differences between the different exercise and non-exercise groups in the variables of interest. In line with the hypotheses and previous findings, the statistic comparisons revealed that body dissatisfaction (as one important factor of negative body image) was most pronounced in the non-exercise group compared to all exercise groups [contrast: no exercise versus exercise (all groups taken together)]. Physical efficacy, as assessed with a standardized questionnaire, mediated the difference between type of exercise (using contrasts) and body image including perceptual, cognitive, and affective body image dimensions. The findings shed light on so far less systematically investigated questions regarding the relationship between types of exercise, like yoga and ballroom dance, and body image. The results underscore the relevance of considering possible influencing factors in exercise research, such as the perception of one’s physical efficacy as a mediator of this relationship.
Highlights
It is generally agreed upon that physical activity is associated with numerous health benefits
The five groups comprising the different exercise groups and the non-exercise group were almost equal in size
Ballroom dance should be examined further differentiating it from other types of exercise
Summary
It is generally agreed upon that physical activity is associated with numerous health benefits. In several studies physical activity was found to be associated with health-related advantages. 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity (e.g., running) per week, or of a comparable combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise, are recommended (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010). Up to 25% of the world’s population do not meet these physical activity recommendations, and levels of physical inactivity are increasing (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010; Du et al, 2019). Physical inactivity has many negative physical and mental consequences It adversely affects the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, bone density, immunity, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and other important health factors (Booth et al, 2017). The mortality risk of physically inactive (not meeting the recommendations) versus active people is up to 20 to 30% higher (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010)
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